The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-04-30
Fence and Stock.


MEssRs. EDIroRs--I see some one complain
ing of q 3-foot fence, with barbed wire
half foot above it." don't know who en-
tered that complaint /; but it is very evident
that the expense planters have to incur
against few sDouty.nose razor-back, So
called hogs is out of all ressol. frequently
in driving through the prairie am foreibly
struck with the folly of miles and miles OF
fencing, costing thousands and thousands OF
dollars, made to keep cut whats Horses ana
cows, that can and do grow to be worth some
thing out on grass2 Oh no-not that; there
might be little good sense in that for the
value of the cows and horses raising outside
would be some consideration in return for the
outlay in fencing. But four barbed wires,
without any other wood than the posts to
rot and waste away, would make sufficient
fence to turn horned cattle or horses, which
they very soon learn to steer clear Of. And
the cost of that would not be tithe of that
of @ plank fence. I have travelled aud am
| travelling great deal in the prairies, and lt
| is very, very rare occurrence for an animal
| to be seriously injured by barbed wire Isnc- .s
| ing. In fact, cattle are becoming too familiar
with it, and sometimes deliberately, and
| s with malice aforethought," force through it.
| But it is suicidal absurdity for people living
| in prairie like ours to submit TO the ruthons
expense of fencing with .plauks or ralls
against the few, aud very few, troublesome,
destructive and worthless skins and bones,
miscalled hogs. that reel around on the
prairies, until the summers sun hardens the
| ground SO that they could not root II there
| was anything to root for, or they had the
strength to root, aud so nearly all OF them
| die eventually. venture the assertion upon
actual, honsst, close and long observation and
experience that while the planako fencing
against hogs may cost about $25O, 900 to the
/ square mile, the hogs actually raised and
each hog actually raised on the prairie, and
| actually eaten by the owner thereof. cost the
planters within the area Of one mile square
S5OOi Five hundred dollars for one disgust
| ing set of skin aud bones, that the buzzards
would hardly eat, ii it should chance die las
/ it is very apt to do) before it squeezes its
/ lank, lean sides through the fence Tor bursts
| its stomach distended with undigasted
| grass 10 the attempt) and steals somebody g
corn or potatoes and thus keeps alive until
the owner feeds away 1T last to the poor stint
ed thing corn worth two or three times more
i than the very poor unsavory meat will ever
| be worth! Folly ! heighth of folly! What
is not drunk MP In whisky as things have
been going, is wasted in fencing against snch
vile, Improbable and troublesome things
called hogs. No wonder the times are hard:
II nobody had to fence against hogs and II
nobody would drink whisky; aud if every
body would work earnestly and intelligentiy
| six days in the week. and rest on the seventh,
and keep ell Gods commandments, ,eVeryood =
would be well.to-do and happy, aud our land
would be an Eden.
Somebody may be ready to say that We
ought to try to raise our own meat nc home
Yea, say so too. But nobody can raise hogs
out on prairie grass worth q cent. Some viii
say yes, but it can be done. deny, and call
for proof. But whoever thinks that 1t can be
done proftably, is very much mistaken.
challenge the whole Of st. Landry parish fG
bring forward one single hog that was raised
on prairie grass alone, that there lives in the
parish q single man who would mot be
as hamed to own it in town among InteIHgeni
and refined people. No, no, our prairie g!as:.
4 cannot produce hogs worth having. And lt II
worse than useless TO try 10 raise them out
side on gTsas.
, Have . lot fenced in where the hogs car
have plenty of water and shade, and somt
green grass on low, wet land, where they cal
} root aud wallow. Then raise near by aom'
succulent sweet grasses and vegetables to Gu
and throw in to them. and boil cotton seed
and feed to them. Or, what would be better
some gin in every neighb0rhood haye ct
; tached to the machinery cotton seed bulle
TO hull on shares, as it grinds corn. After tn
hull is removed from the seeds shey make
healthy, digestible and nourishing food to
hogs and cattle. The hulled seeds are com
q posed largely of starch and oil, highly fabten
= Ing properties, and the huils are largely con-
poeed OF potash--a very rich fertilizer col
: Lon seed huller that will hnli several tons pe
. day costs only about $500; and once the pes
: pie have become acquainted with the grea
} worth Of decorticated cotton seeds IS . Eooe
2 and the hulls as fertilizer, the machin
d would prove valuable Investment TO 90
!. owner, and rich boon to the communist.
8 Come gentlemen of st. Landry, Jet as shut
9 the hogs lbut have good breeds-tbe Esse
q for example-that viii not eat chickens
9 lambs, OF any kind of hesh, but will reac
. about 500 lbs. in one yearl, have them raise
, In suitable pastures on hulied cotton seed
and tiually, harden their fat on corn aud q
Q rich our lands with the hulls Of tho cotto
. seeds, instead of selling them of TO oil mil
. and sufFering our exhausted soils 20 run dow
!, &C low that We can't raise cotton enough
J buy meat. And what is the consequence
!. As there is not money enough made TO Do
:. meat and pay for the whiskey drank on
!. credit while making the cotton, poor people
! too many of them do without meat and hv
2 or hominy to pay their whiskey bills tor tn'
e is considered . debt of honor, OF somcthi1
: wonderful. For they ttoo many OF theml ha
I rather fail to pay any and all other debts ina
9 that. Oh, what dreadful state OF anair'
= Let us put all the money-now being spon
2. worse than wasted in whiskey-in Essez hog
. ! in pastures then We may have peace 81
}. D. w. FOSTER.